(Albany, NY)- The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) today announced the formal opening of the new location of the Zoar Valley Recovery and Treatment Center in downtown Gowanda, New York. The facility offers outpatient behavioral health services for adults, children, and adolescents through the Office of Mental Health’s Buffalo Psychiatric Center and Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center.

An open house and ribbon cutting ceremony was held today to introduce the community to the services now available at the site at 49 S. Water St.  OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan joined clinic staff, advocates and stakeholders to officially open the new facility.

“The new, updated Zoar Valley Recovery and Treatment Center is a spacious, modern facility in a more convenient location for the individuals and families we serve in Western New York,” Commissioner Sullivan said.  “The clinic offers a wide range of community-based behavioral health services to provide the comprehensive care that’s needed in Southern Erie County and the Southern Tier communities surrounding the village of Gowanda.”

Construction of the new $1.5 million building for the Zoar Valley Recovery and Treatment Center started in the Spring/Summer of 2016. The 9,500 square foot state-of-the-art facility is easily accessible by public transportation and is a short walk from the village’s main street. The new facility boasts twice the treatment space than its former location outside of the village, where the clinic had been temporarily operating since 2014.

The new location houses Buffalo Psychiatric Center’s traditional clinic services, as well as its Family Care program, which provides residential support. A community Mobile Integration Team, which serves southern Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties with comprehensive mobile behavioral health services, is located at the site along with a Health Homecare Management team, offering additional support and linkage to community services.

The Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center is now able to expand its services to the Gowanda community, addressing what has been an unmet need for child and adolescent services throughout the area.

“This beautiful new facility demonstrates our commitment to serving the people of Gowanda and the surrounding rural communities. We are providing a full range of quality community-based behavioral health services in a setting that promotes recovery and well-being,” said Dr. Beatrix Souza, Executive Director of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.

“As Mayor of Gowanda, it is my extreme pleasure to offer my congratulations to the fine staff and crew at the Zoar Valley Clinic,” said Gowanda Mayor David Smith. “Having worked at the school for 15 years, I have had the pleasure of seeing first hand the genuine difference your services make in the lives of our residents!  We are extremely proud to have you in our community! God Bless and Best of Luck!”